Clutch



Aug. 23, 1932. J, RAUCH 1,873,479

CLUTCH- Filed April 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. D. RAUCH Aug. 23, 1932.

CLUTCH Filed April 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 joHn :0. Bacon QIF-LIMA, oHIo, nssreivon T mag a rowan snovEL c mmie me on June 18,1929.

1 I.IMA, oHIo, A conronArIonor ,onro,

" 2 current I i Application filed Apri1 24;

.ject to'provide a new and improved clutch of the type described.

.More specifically, my invention relates to improvements in the type of balanced or equalized toggle actuated clutch such as disclosedin United States Patent No. 866,282 issued to J. PpKarr and me on September 17, 1907, and Patent No. 1,717,892 issued to The type of balanced or equalized toggle clutch above referred to is characterized by the provision of an equalizing bar which operatively connects the actuating levers at the outer ends of the toggle links with the shifting clutch collar so as to equalizethe forces on opposite sides thereof, and thus eliminate friction which might otherwise be set up if all of the operating force were applied through one toggle link at one side of the shaft.

In carrying out my present invention, I utilize the balanced or equalized toggle construction above described, as applied to an 1 internal expanding friction clutch, andalso provide an improved arrangement for applying the resultant equalized clutch operating force through a suitable tension device so as to give a smoother clutching action and minimize excessive frictional pressure when the clutch is initially operated. I

The invention may best be understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which a Figure 1 is a face view of a clutch constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail view taken on line 22 of Figure 1, with unimportantparts of the mechanism shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view taken on line 38 of Figure 1. 7

Referring now to details of the mechanism shown in the drawings, the clutch includes a drum 10 having an internal friction band 11 suitably mounted on a drive member 12 keyed on shaft 12 concentric with said drum. In the form shown, the band 11 has an anchor" block 13 at one end fitting in a transverse slot 14 formed in a bracket 15 integral with 1931. ser al No. 532,40a1

faces 13 and 13- arranged to afford limited sliding movement of the anchor block within the slot 14: in a direction extending radially" ofthe shaft axis,soia's to permit the anchor block to move toward or away from the drum and automatically position itself concentrically relative thereto when the clutch is engaged? a Suitable tension means is provided tending -to move the anchor block away from the drum when the clutch is idle; 'In the form shownsaid tension means comprises a spring 16 mounted on a bolt 17 secured to a bracket 18 on the inner face ofthe friction band and .extendingfthrougha stop "19 on the drive member' 12. Said'spri'ng and-bolt are dis posed at an angle to the anchor block so as to ten'd-to -retract said anchor block-and the adj acent end of the friction bandfrom the Suitable intermediate supports 29, 20- are carried by the drive member 12in spaced relation about the friction band as shown;

V 1 Thedrivemember 12 has a hub 12" on which a sleeve 22 is longitudinally slidable. A shifting collar 23 is groovedin the sleeve, and is operated by any suitablemeans such as a yoke. (not 1 shown) in the'usual manner. A'pair of oppositely vdisposed toggle links 24 and25 are pivoted at their inner ends on the sleeve 22. -The outer end of link 2 1 has a universal joint 26 disposedbetween and con:

' nected to bifurcated arms 27,27 or; arlever 28 pivotedlon pin 29. The pin 29 is supported at its inner end indrive member 12, and :its'

outer end in the bracket 15 :which also supports the anchor block 13 as previously desCribedr" a Pivoted on the pin 29 between theebifurcated arms 27, 27 ofthe lever 28is a bell crank lever 30 having one arm 31 extending in a generally radial direction, and another arm f 32 extending in a direction tangential of the.

clutch drum. 'The arm31 01? said 'bell 'cranlr lever is pivotally connected" direc tlyto the free end of the friction bandll for operating the latter, as for instance by a-link 33including a turn buckle whichis': provided for" V V adjusting the operating position of said" i clutch band. I

1 band and a ;pin 36gcarr-ie d by the; driving The free end of the friction band is also supported by a vradially extending link connected between the end of said friction Q member 1 2 aat ia-epoint closely adjacentthe comprise a coil spring m0unted on bolt-41. The spring 40 is interposed-between the head 41 of said bolt and a cross Piece 28 connect sleeve 22 (see- Yielding tension means are provideid be I ween the end "of issuers-a1: lieiver-arinj32 and r the adjacent end ofbifurcated' lever"28. In

the form shown, said yielding tension means ing the bifurcatedfarms 27, 27 of lever 28. The bolt passes through {said cross'ipiece-28 'and hasi-ts innerv endfifixed to th'erleve'rfarm32 'as'clearly shown in Figure -1-. t

or :link 50. Said equalizing bar'is provided with a turn buckle 51 for adjusting the, effective length thereof in theTus-ual manner.

3 The oper'a-tienofthe-clutchdevice above describedwill now "be understood. VVith the In a clutch, a drum, a shaft, a clutch memberv thereon, and friction clutch means car ried thereby comprising a friction band, two 7 1 levers pivoted at opposite sides of said shaft,

actuating means for said levers including a sliding sleeve mounted concentric with said shaft, we oppositely di'sposed ltdgglh links having onearm .yieldingly connectedto the last named lever movablein a direction g'enerallyradial relative to said 7dium-, i'and the otheryarm' connected W'ibhfSllid *fiictidn band to shift it circumferential ly of said drum. v I

Signed at Lima,"Ohio, this 20 day offip'ril,

I JOHND.

shifting sleeve 22-atits innermost-position V t as shown in full lines in Figure '2, the toggle linksWQ L and 25 are in substantial vertical V =alignment with each other so as to throw the leve'rs-281and4e5 connected therewith "to their extreme duter'most positionsk The movement uarmri32 inwardly therewiththroughthe yield- 7 ing? connection provided by. .spri-ngAO and pin 41.. This fyieldingt'connection, however, serves the importantfunc'tion of delaying the I take hold 'smo'othliy "to the exact construction shown and degrabbing action 6 of lever 28 tends to move the bell crank lever clutch applying force to the free end of the clutchwband through the bell crank lever 30, a-r1113]. and =1'ink33, and permits the friction band to adjust itself with substantiallyiequa'lized frictional pressures around the entire drum. As a result, the clutch is permitted to Without the more abrupt ten noted Where the initial clutching movement is transmitted directly and suddenlyto the Ffiee end of the friction band-,as in the'usual construction.

.At the same time,;the pressureefiective upon the-idler link 25 is also effective iipo'n the friction band through the medium of arm td-equalizing bar 50, lever 28"and the yieldfing-c'onnection just'de'scribed.

Although I havei-llustrated and described a certain {embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not Wish to be limited scribed, butlthat-various changes and modieach, interposed between said sleeve and one. of said levers, an equalizin member con n-eating sai-d' levers f 'rfwa ascents vperas tion, and'ineztns' interposed between one of said levers and'said friction band foractuat ing the latter, including a'b'ell crank'leve'r" i tens ffifcations maybe made Without departing I claim as my invention: 1

rom'the spirit and scopeof riiyiinvention. I 

